By David Faust
Select members of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as “The Old Guard,” keep daily watch over the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. They carry out their duties 24 hours a day, seven days a week, regardless of the weather.
All soldiers who guard the tomb must be in superb physical condition, possess an unblemished military record, and undergo a strict selection and training process that includes rigorous interviews and tests. They keep their uniforms and weapons in immaculate condition. The guards follow an unchanging routine, marching 21 steps down the mat behind the tomb before turning and facing north for 21 seconds, then taking 21 steps back down the mat. (The number 21 symbolizes the high military honor of the 21-gun salute.)
Keep Watch Over Others
Only a few select guards protect the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, but we all need to be vigilant. The apostle Paul told members of the Corinthian church, “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13), and he urged a young preacher, “Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care” (1 Timothy 6:20). Paul told the Ephesian elders, “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood” (Acts 20:28).
God calls parents in families and leaders in churches to shepherd those under our care. We must guard our flocks in several ways:
- Protect them from starvation, for without a shepherd, sheep don’t know where to find food and water. We must make sure our flocks are nourished on the “pure spiritual milk” and “solid food” of God’s Word (1 Peter 2:2; Hebrews 5:13-14).
- Protect them from harm, for without a shepherd, sheep fall prey to predators. Like “savage wolves,” false teachers “distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them” (Acts 20:29-30).
- Protect them from aimlessness, for without leaders to guide them, sheep tend to stand around going nowhere.
- Protect them from wandering, for sheep tend to go astray and drift away from the flock.
Guard Your Own Heart
Faithful prophets like Zechariah served as spiritual guardians. The people of his day stubbornly turned their backs on the Lord and developed “hearts as hard as flint” (Zechariah 7:11-12). Zechariah boldly pointed out that instead of administering justice, speaking truth, and showing compassion, they were oppressing the vulnerable and plotting evil against each other (7:9-10; 8:16-17).
It’s noteworthy that before Paul told elders to guard the flock, he instructed them, “Keep watch over yourselves” (Acts 20:28). We won’t lead others well if our own hearts are hard as flint.
Most of us will never master the physical and mental rigors displayed by those who guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. But out of love for the Savior who died for us and left behind an empty tomb, we must be vigilant about our own state of mind. According to Jesus, danger doesn’t come from the outside only, but from evil thoughts in our hearts—sexual immorality, greed, envy, slander, arrogance, and other sins (see Mark 7:20-23).
That’s why Proverbs 4:23 reminds us, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
Personal Challenge: In a quiet place, pray about what (or whom) the Lord is asking you to guard. Thank God for going before you and being “your rear guard” (Isaiah 52:12). Thank him for his peace, which will “guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).
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